photo: courtesy the bacon takedown series
Sample and judge the results of The Bacon Takedown at Lincoln Hall this Saturday.
Thursday, 9/12: Milwaukee’s Lakefront Brewery stages a “Mini Tap Takeover” at Franklin Tap (325 S. Franklin St., 312-212-3262) from 5 to 7 p.m. Six beers from the craft brewery will be available for $5 a draft. Lakefront representative Kevin Pearson will be present to discuss the selection and raffle off a tour of the Wisconsin brewery.
Thursday, 9/12: Lincoln Square launches its block party–style event, The Sunnyside of Lincoln Avenue. Three area restaurants, Bistro Campagne, Due Lire, and The Grafton offer food and drink specials with live music and artisanal booths set up along the street. The $50 admission fee also buys you two drinks and an appetizer at each location.
Friday, 9/13: As the summer rolls into fall, farm dinners start to pop up all over the place. This week 2Sparrows (553 W. Diversey Pkwy., 773-234-2320) teams with Nichols Farm, Catalpa Grove, and Seedling Farm for a four-course dinner featuring summertime favorites such as melon, beets, kohlrabi, and pickled berries. Each course will be paired with a cocktail using spirits from North Shore Distillery. The night kicks off with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $50.
Saturday, 9/14: If your child’s a foodie in the making, then you want to check out Back to School Bash at Standard Market (333 E. Ogden Ave., 630-366-7030). Family friendly events run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., including a cooking demonstration with chef Bill Kim (Takashi, Slurping Turtle, BellyQ) and tastings of snacks like ants on a log, peanut butter and banana pinwheels, and yogurt parfaits from Standard Market chefs and vendors. You can even sign up your kid for a sushi rolling class for $25.
Saturday, 9/14: Amateur chefs compete at the fourth annual Bacon Takedown Series at Lincoln Hall. The competition, hosted by Hormel® Black Label®, challenges contestants to get creative with 15 pounds of bacon. Attendants collectively sample and judge the entries. The bacon sizzles from 2 to 4 p.m.; tickets cost $15.
Saturday, 9/14: Zed451’s next “Confections with Kate” class focuses on back-to-school sweets. Chef Kate Milashus teaches participants how to make fig cookies (similar to Fig Newtons), raspberry jam oat bars, and peanut butter oatmeal cookies all from scratch. The $20 fee also includes a cocktail, a dessert, and a treat to take home. Call Zed451 (739 N. Clark St., 312-266-6691) for reservations; class starts at 2 p.m.
Saturday, 9/14: Wine aficionados gather for the Waterleaf Food and Wine Festival this weekend. The Daily Herald presents this annual festival at Waterleaf (425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, 630-942-6881), which showcases boutique wines, local beer, food from executive chef Nadia Tilkian and culinary students, and live jazz music. Tickets are $35.00 in advance, $40 at the door, and the event lasts from 3 to 6 p.m.